Por Renan Filho · 2026-10-12**Lead**
A University of Idaho professor, thrust into a national firestorm after a TikTok psychic accused him of involvement in the brutal murders of four students, has broken his silence — expressing deep fear for his children’s safety and condemning the role of unverified online speculation in real-world harm. The professor, who has not been charged with any crime and maintains his innocence, said the ordeal has forced his family to take security precautions and has left his children frightened by strangers. The case highlights growing concerns over the power of social media influencers to spread dangerous falsehoods with little accountability.
**Contexto**
The false accusation stems from the November 2022 killings of four University of Idaho students — Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin — in a rental home near campus. The crime captured national attention and sparked a frenzy of online amateur sleuthing, including theories on TikTok, Reddit, and other platforms. In early 2023, a popular TikTok psychic, who uses the handle “[Psychic K]” and has tens of thousands of followers, posted videos claiming she had a vision that a University of Idaho professor was involved in the murders. The psychic did not provide evidence, but the videos quickly went viral, amassing millions of views.
The professor — a tenured member of the university’s faculty who has not been named by FORTIS NEWS due to the unsubstantiated nature of the claims but is publicly identified in court filings and news reports — became the target of online harassment and death threats. His home address, office location, and personal information were circulated on social media. Students at the university reported hearing classmates repeat the psychic’s allegations as fact. The professor’s employer confirmed that there was no evidence connecting him to the crime and that he was not a person of interest in the official investigation, which eventually led to the arrest of Bryan Kohberger, a former graduate student at Washington State University.
Despite the lack of any credible link, the damage was done. The professor later filed a defamation lawsuit against the psychic, seeking to hold her accountable for the harm caused by her statements. Court documents from that case outline the threats the professor and his family received, including messages promising violence against his children. In his first detailed public statement since the accusations emerged, the professor told local media that his children — ages six and eight — are now afraid to go to school and ask questions about why “bad people” want to hurt their dad. He described the experience as living “a nightmare that never ends.”
**Analise**
This case is a stark example of the real-world consequences of viral misinformation, especially when wielded by accounts that present themselves as authoritative. The TikTok psychic’s claim — delivered with dramatic flair and without any factual basis — leveraged the platform’s algorithmic amplification to reach millions. The professor, not a public figure before the accusation, found himself in the crosshairs of an angry digital mob. The fact that the official law enforcement investigation had identified another suspect did little to quell the online frenzy. This demonstrates a troubling gap between legal reality and public perception shaped by social media.
The professor’s fear for his children’s safety is particularly poignant and underscores the collateral damage of online witch hunts. Children should not have to pay the price for their parent’s baseless vilification. The professor’s willingness to speak out could encourage other victims of similar online attacks to come forward, but it also highlights the emotional toll of defending oneself against claims that have no evidentiary support.
From a policy perspective, this incident raises questions about the responsibility of social media platforms such as TikTok to moderate content that leads to targeted harassment. While TikTok has policies against misinformation that could cause harm, enforcement often lags behind the viral spread. The psychic’s account remained active for weeks after the accusations, amassing followers and ad revenue. Critics argue that platforms must move faster to remove content that incites harassment, especially when it targets private individuals not involved in the crime. The professor’s defamation lawsuit may set a precedent for holding individual creators liable, but systemic change likely requires clearer legal frameworks.
**Fontes**
Sources: Statements from the professor’s legal team; court documents from the defamation lawsuit filed in Latah County, Idaho; reporting by CNN, The New York Times, and local Idaho news outlet KREM 2; TikTok’s community guidelines and Creator terms of service; official press releases from the University of Idaho and Moscow Police Department concerning the 2022 homicide investigation.